last week in Carlisle i picked up a set of triple train horns and found that i have room under the truck to mount them.

i have done alot of reading on the solenoids, and have come to the decision NOT to use one if i want the max air flow for best sound.

i have read that alot of truckers use something similar to a gas pipe shut of valve, with 1/2 piping. in my daily driver, i dont think i want to mess with that as far as a manual shut off valve.

do any of you know of a quality pull valve (like on semis) for max air flow or a floor mounted valve switch that can be operated by foot?

i would prefer to have a foot area mounted valve.

i also thought of using a pipe valve, and an actuator....any one done this before?

no replys? this is the first time this awesome site has let me down.

does anyone know of any good semi sites i can check out to find this information?

You can run a electric solenoid with no problems. There are several out there and they have a wide range of air flow ratings. You can get one that will flow plenty of air for your horns. I have dual horns on mine and my solenoid is probably overkill. It's all about the size of airline that you want to run. BIG AIRLINE+BIG SOLENOID=BIG AIR. Also make sure that you have big enough tanks to support those bad boys!

thanks for the response! i did find a 3/4" solenoid but it is not cheap by any means. i guess i can keep looking for a better priced one.

i will probly run 1/2" line from the pump to the tank to the solenoid to the horn with the 3/4" solenoid.....heck, i might even run 3/4 all the way and just be over kill like everything else on the truck.

how much was the solenoid. The valves we use for air suspensions aren't too pricey, and they handle a pretty good amount of pressure.

this is the one i found on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-4-Train-Horn-Solenoid-Switch-Air-Horns-Nathan-Leslie_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6763QQitemZ79931 47184QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

the shipping is what is the real killer!

Kappa9012, if you have a supplier in mind, let me know. thanks

I picked one up from Napa once for my C4500, and used the factory wires going to the stock horn for the solonoid, that way my steering wheel horn button works on the air horn.

Auctions like that give ebay a bad rap. Shipping on that will be a complete maximum of $7.00 if you used the flat rate USPS box. Without a flat rate box, I'd guess 4.85 as most things of that size are. Dont buy from that place...

Honestly I get all my stuff from Jason at www.suicidedoors.com. The guy is awesome. I'm not sure if he has 3/4's but all of his 1/2 GC valves flow extremely high numbers. and are almost half the cost of that $95 one on ebay. Oh yeah they are also rated for 450psi, so you can really crank up your pressure to these valves.

I been buying my air components through this company. They have always treated me well. plus free shipping on anything. I usually get the stuff within a couple days also. http://www.vtkustoms.com/default.asp

i checked both sources, and suicidedoors.com came through. the other place would not even answer there phone.

this is the one i got on the way:
http://www.suicidedoors.com/products/smc_valves-12.htm

i was hoping to stay away from this set up, but i will give it a try.

i think for air tank i have a few old portable tanks for filling up tires, and i can run them back to back. i also thought about having a custom built tank to fit under the drivers side floor, and it would probly be 20-40 gal or so.....way over kill just like everything else i have on the truck!

Try my buddy at: http://groverairhorns.com/. He should be able to fix tou up. Which train horns did you get?

i have them at the shop, i will have to look at the box. i got them from www.elizabethtruckcenter.com cool truck at the front of the site also! i got to see it in person at the Carlisle truck nations....awesome ride! it is well worth watching the intro.

I like the manual valves/lanyards like the semi's use. These valves give you the ability to control the air flow to the horns so you can give it that "train is coming" sound. Just enough air to make the horns start blowing and then give it a quick rap!

no replys? this is the first time this awesome site has let me down.

does anyone know of any good semi sites i can check out to find this information?




Sorry, have been very busy here recently.

By the way...these dont stutter:lol:

http://dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=388&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1112045980


Do a search on Train Horns and you will get a lot of information.

Here is one topic with some info.

Good Luck!

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19285&highlight=train+horns

I had a set of Leslie RS3-L 3 trumpet horns on my 99 Suburban. We custom fabricated all the bracketry to make them fit and to mount the air tank, compressor, etc. I mounted the horns under the drivers side right in fornt of the axle with an L-bracket over the top of the frame. It was secured by a thru-bolt through the frame (an existing hole was found to use). The air tank and compressor were mounted on the passenger side outside the frame rail. The compressor was mounted on an L-bracket and bolted directly to the frame up high where it was covered by the body. The tank was installed just behind it on the outside of the frame rail as well. The top mounting bolts were drilled through the frame, and the bottom two had to be installed with an l-bracket to the bottom of the frame rail. A 3/8" plastic air line was ran to the horns from the tank, and I used a 3/8" electric dump valve wired to a toggle on the dash, worked like a charm! My tank was a 5 gallon tank and I had a 380C Viair compressor. After dumping the tank, it could refill in about 2 minutes to full pressure (150 psi). I had a a pressure switch that would come on at 100 and go off at 150. The horns would scare the ever living sh!t out of anyone within 100 yards and could be heard in a one mile radius. What type of horns did you buy? If you have any other questons about the install, let me know, it was pretty simple.

BTW, the Leslies are much louder than the Nathan K-5LAs shown above, much deeper tone and very eas yto rebuild! I've got a set of RS5-Ts that I need to figure out how to mount on my new truck. I f you can find Leslies, GET 'EM!

Use a standard plumbing ball valve. I don't like the solenoid on/off sound. With a ball valve you will have to run the hose inside but it's worth it. Leave your stock horn alone. No electrics needed.

BTW, the Leslies are much louder than the Nathan K-5LAs shown above, much deeper tone and very eas yto rebuild! I've got a set of RS5-Ts that I need to figure out how to mount on my new truck. I f you can find Leslies, GET 'EM!

:rolleyes:
I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.

There is a guy here in KC that runs a set of Leslie Horns, not sure what style, but there are 3 trumpets on his. While the tone was clean and clear, they were in no way louder than the K5LA’s, the K5’s just blew his Leslies out of the water for sheer volume. When my K5’s go off the ground actually vibrates.

His comment was OMG, where did you get those at? He was running a ViaAir 450 just like mine at 130 psi.

Hoot is correct, a ball type valve located in the cab is the obsolete best way to plumb up your horns. You can throttle the volume and duration like a real train.



But judge for yourself, here are a couple clips:

The K5LA’s have a hauntingly sweet sound to them, listen to the echo on the second MP3, its a 2 second blast with an 8 second echo :D

K5LA's: http://trainweb.org/mdamtrak199/horns/csxk5la_2.mp3
http://trainweb.org/mdamtrak199/documents/K5H_MSTS_JG_WEB.mp3

Leslie RS3L :http://trainweb.org/mdamtrak199/horns/RS3L_cr_web.mp3
http://trainweb.org/mdamtrak199/horns/RS3L_4_02_web.mp3

those electric valves are parker valves you can get them at grainger or even at a shop that sells air bags for lowered trucks and cars just a fyi

Hoot is correct, a ball type valve located in the cab is the obsolete best way to plumb up your horns. You can throttle the volume and duration like a real train.


Actually this is the best way...

A real loco valve.... can you say obnoxious?

http://www.getdieselpower.com/my04dodge_files/horn/images/DSCN5328.jpg

Auctions like that give ebay a bad rap. Shipping on that will be a complete maximum of $7.00 if you used the flat rate USPS box. Without a flat rate box, I'd guess 4.85 as most things of that size are. Dont buy from that place...
It's a standard eBay fee avoidance tactic. You would think that eBay woudl catch on.

If you sell something for $100 and charge actual shipping, eBay pockets $3.37. If you sell it for $25 with $75 shipping charge, eBay only pockets $1.31.
Ya... it's only two bucks, but if you are a high volume seller, it adds up.

I don't have a problem with it as long as the shipping charges are disclosed in advance. I simply adjust my max bid down to reflect what I feel it is worth minus shipping.

It's a standard eBay fee avoidance tactic. You would think that eBay woudl catch on.

If you sell something for $100 and charge actual shipping, eBay pockets $3.37. If you sell it for $25 with $75 shipping charge, eBay only pockets $1.31.
Ya... it's only two bucks, but if you are a high volume seller, it adds up.

I don't have a problem with it as long as the shipping charges are disclosed in advance. I simply adjust my max bid down to reflect what I feel it is worth minus shipping.

Thanks for that tip. I never realized that.

Actually this is the best way...

A real loco valve.... can you say obnoxious?

http://www.getdieselpower.com/my04dodge_files/horn/images/DSCN5328.jpg



:lol: GREAT!

Did you have that valve on your D'Max?

:lol: GREAT!

Did you have that valve on your D'Max?

Yea I transferred it all over to the new truck.

Here it was in the Dmax....

http://www.getdieselpower.com/my01dmax_files/horn/images/DSCN4940.jpg

Yea I transferred it all over to the new truck.
Here it was in the Dmax....

That's a thing of beauty :D

I'm sure it's all in what you like and how you set them up. I had a set of K5s and RS3s that I hooked up to an air line one after the other to decide which one to use. I liked the tone and roar of the leslies better than the screachy sound of the k5s. Also, they way mine were setup, I had the 44 and 31 trumpets facing forward, and the 25 facing aft (2 smallers forward and bigger one aft), the ground would more than vibrate!

Leslies sound great but the big horn ends present an installation challange. It's a much bigger horn than the K3 I have.

Here is where I placed my ball valve, gauge and switch for the Train Horns.

A little more subtle but effective.

http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/725/550Extras_009-med.jpg


FINALLY got my photohost.org pictures back up after one of their many crashes.


Click “Pictures” below in my signature. :beerchug:

YES, they are huge! I had to trim one trumpet so it didn't rub the driveshat in the 'burban. Now, I'm gonna have to remove the spare tire to mount them on the Dmax since the fuel tank is too long and doesn't give me enough space.

Check this thread out. This is my set up with a fire engine horn. For the switch I put in a toogle so I active the air horn with the factory horn button on the steering wheel. I can swith between the two.

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13751

That's what I plan on doing, similar to a "city/highway" toggle for the horn on a motorhome. My buddy had that setup on his 83 Silverado, it's the only way to do it!

That's what I plan on doing, similar to a "city/highway" toggle for the horn on a motorhome. My buddy had that setup on his 83 Silverado, it's the only way to do it!

If you can't feather the pressure you lose a lot of play control. That's a lot of horn to not take advantage of.

With a porportional valve like mine or a regular ball valve, you can even give a light toot. With a solenoid it full on instantly. Someone is gonna have a heart attack!

Just a humble opinion.

I know, I would just rather not have to mount a valve somewhere inside. I installed a ball valve on my buddy's '96 Cummins and it was a pain in the @ss. It's much easier to run a couple wires than two air hoses and find a place to mount the valve! I have figured out how to moderate the dound somewhat with the toggle method. Just barely tapping the switch gives a nice little womp. Hold it and you really get some attention! It's amazing, even that doesn't always get the point accross here in south Florida, people are just oblivious! I hate driving here and it's killing me not having my horns!